Riley: Wade could miss start of '07-'08

MIAMI — Heat coach Pat Riley said Thursday he expects Dwyane Wade to undergo surgery next week and is not certain the guard will be available by the start of next season.

"We know that he's going to have surgery, and we know it's going to be soon," Riley said. "I do think something's going to happen surgically next week."

Riley said he did not know if Wade would first address the tendinitis in his left knee or his dislocated left shoulder.

"I would say the most pressing is his knee, because he has spent 21/2 months rehabilitating the shoulder," Riley said.

"Both things will have to be addressed, one way or another."

There is a possibility Wade could bypass surgery for the shoulder he dislocated Feb. 21. He returned for the final two weeks of the season and playoffs, but hardly was as aggressive as he was before the injury.

Riley said complete rehabilitation is the priority, rather than getting Wade back in time for training camp or the start of the season. Training camp opens Oct. 2, with the regular season opening Oct. 30.

"When you're talking about some surgery that might take six months, then you can't put a timetable on that," Riley said.

With his third-team All-NBA selection Thursday, Wade became the second Heat player to be named All-NBA three consecutive years, joining Tim Hardaway. Wade, Bryant, Steve Nash and Gilbert Arenas are the only guards to be named All-NBA each of the past three seasons.

Wade became the first guard to make an All-NBA team while missing at least 31 games since Pete Maravich earned second-team honors in 1978 with the New Orleans Jazz after missing 32 games.